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KEEPING YOU UPDATED
Welcome to our Cancer Voices newsletter. This is our way of keeping you all informed about the latest internal and external opportunities we have for you to be a part of. If you have anything that is specifically related to cancer that you would like for us to share here, please do get in touch.
As always, we are grateful for your contributions to all pathways, projects and programmes in GM Cancer. We love to hear from you, so please do keep in touch by emailing us below.
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Enhanced Communication Skills AI Scenario Development
We are looking for two patient and/ or carer representatives to join a new project group that will guide the development of AI simulation training aimed at improving communication skills across the workforce.
Your perspective and lived experience will be invaluable in shaping realistic scenarios, ensuring the training reflects what matters most to patients and carers.
The group will meet periodically to review draft content, share feedback, and collectively design elements of the training modules. If you are interested in taking part, please submit an expression of interest detailing why you are interested in this project.
Gynae Pathway Board Patient and Carer Representative
We are seeking a Patient or Carer Representative to join our Gynae Pathway Board. We are particularly interested to hear from someone who has lived experience or supported someone with gynaecological cancer (in particular, ovarian or cervical). The overall purpose of the pathway board representative is to provide a link between the pathway board and the patient carer voice.
The gynaecological pathway board is a multi-disciplinary team of varied clinical and non-clinical members that focusses on the development and improvement of cancer services within gynaecological cancer across GM.
Please get in touch if you are interested.
Genomics Education Event - patient involvement
We will be holding a Genomics Education Event on Friday 16th January 2026 in Manchester City Centre. The event will be an opportunity to share all the ongoing work both nationally and locally to improve equity of access to genomic testing in cancer.
We would love to include within the event, opportunities to share patient stories to show the impact of genomics on our patients and their cancer treatment. We are also looking for a patient/ carer representative to be involved in the agenda and planning of the event.
Here’s a link to our genomics animations if are not familiar with the role of genomics in cancer care. Genomics Animation video
Please get in touch if you’d be interested in taking part.
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Patient representative training session
We still have spaces to join our upcoming training sessions with Delve this October and November please see below. The patient and carer representatives who attended the first sessions gave this lovely feedback:
"It was great meeting with people in similar circumstances who were friendly and chatty."
"Being told that medical staff have not lived with Cancer and that the views of patients and carers is therefore of value"
"Excellent teacher and great group"
 For more details on each session and to sign up, please complete our short form.
October: Communicating with impact
Sometimes you only have 30 seconds to get your point across – so how do you make it land? This session helps you craft short, sharp messages that bring your experience to life and make a difference.
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Face to face: Friday 3 October, 10am-12:30pm
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Virtual: Thursday 9 October, 2-4pm
November: Assertiveness - speaking up for what matters
Advocating for a cause – or a person – doesn’t have to mean being the loudest in the room. This session explores what it really means to be assertive: clear and confident when something matters. You’ll leave with everyday strategies to speak up and stand your ground – even in tricky conversations – while staying true to your values and style.
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Face to Face: Monday 3 November, 1-3:30pm
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Virtual: Thursday 13 November, 10am-12pm
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Personalised Care Animations
Over the coming months, the Personalised Care team will be working on a mini series of animations around the topic of body image. We are looking for patient or carer representatives who would be interested in supporting the development of these animations, through our animations working group.
We will be scheduling sessions to look at the below topic areas, taking them from draft scrips to storyboards to the final animation. If you would be interested in taking part please let us know which topic is of interest to you?
- Facial (skin/plastics)
- Post major reconstruction surgery
- Voice change
- Living with a stoma
- Hair loss
Meetings will start in the coming weeks once we have confirmed the clinical leads for each area. Each animation will likely be discussed over 2-3 meetings, including some items to review on email in between meetings. You're welcome to share your input on more than one animation if you have the capacity.
Thank you to everyone who has already expressed an interest. If you would like to put your name down, please email us on gmcancer.voices@nhs.net.
Think Well with Cancer - NHS Talking Therapies Project for people affected with cancer
Olivia, Heather and Sophie would like to thank everyone who contributed their feedback at the Cancer Voices Community meetings in September. Your insights have been invaluable in shaping educational materials for professionals working in Talking Therapies, ensuring that the training reflects real-life experiences and that the support provided is tailored to the needs of people affected by cancer.
The Think Well with Cancer Project is continuing to accept referrals for people affected by cancer which includes those directly and indirectly affected such as family, friends and carers. Support is available for a range of common issues experienced by people affected by cancer, including low mood, anxiety, stress, and difficulties with coping. Addressing these concerns can lead to improved overall wellbeing and quality of life.
The Think Well with Cancer webpage includes further information and links to locality referral forms. The webpage also includes downloadable resources which are suitable for sharing, these include a poster and a patient leaflet: Think Well With Cancer - Greater Manchester Cancer.
To highlight this project covers the areas Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Wigan and Trafford.
We are currently in the process of printing the poster and leaflet, and we’d love your feedback to ensure the materials are accessible for patients. If you have suggestions on where these materials might be best placed, please share your thoughts with Olivia at: Olivia.gunby@nhs.net
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Meet Paul, a new patient representative who joined the GM Cancer Voices Community this year
"Being told you have Metastatic Prostate Cancer was rough and in my case was discovered after I was admitted to hospital with spinal cord compression.
My journey has been both dramatic and traumatic and has committed me to do all I can to help make the pathway smoother for others. It is thanks to the care of the medical teams I am still alive, and I need to use the time I have to give something back. This is why I have chosen to join the Urology Pathway Board as well as the Metastatic Strategy Delivery Group; helping keep patient voices an integral part of planning and delivering services and new initiatives."
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A former teacher from Greater Manchester is urging people not to ignore the signs of persistent heartburn
Gill Kohler, from Wigan, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer two years ago after her niece noticed how much over-the-counter indigestion medicine she was relying on.
Now she is supporting a new Heartburn Health Roadshow, which will be in Greater Manchester in October, to help others spot potential symptoms of oesophageal cancer – also known as cancer of the foodpipe – sooner.
Gill wants others to hear her message: if you have persistent heartburn, swallowing difficulties, or unexplained pain—don’t ignore it.
You can read the full article on our website.
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GM Cancer Alliance updates |
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Learn more about persistent heartburn as a new Heartburn Health Roadshow rolls into Greater Manchester
The Heartburn Health Roadshow is touring Greater Manchester between 6 and 17 October 2025 and is a partnership between the Alliance and national charity Heartburn Cancer UK.
Oesophageal cancer is the 7th biggest cancer killer in the UK – the 4th biggest for men – despite being only the 14th most common. Around 8,000 people die from it each year.
Middleton, Irlam, Stretford, Bolton, Leigh, Bury, Manchester, Stockport, Oldham, Tameside
The roadshow is offering a drop in service open approximately 10:30am to 6pm. No appointment is necessary. The white mobile unit with red and orange fire on the side will be parked up in the car park near to the supermarket entrance. You can’t miss it! We hope to see you there. You can read the full article on our website.
 Cancer Improvement Collaborative (CIC) Project
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30 years of Arts and Health in Stockport
Arc, who delivered an art workshop at our Wellbeing Day earlier in the year are celebrating 30 years of leading arts and mental health projects in the community. To celebrate they are are having a party at their main office in Stockport at Hat Works and would love to extend the invitation to our patient and carer representatives. If you would like to get involved please let us know.
Would you like to join a research study?
The team are exploring the experiences of people from minority ethnic background of accessing cancer care and treatment.
The project will be interviewing 3 groups of people (aiming for 10 in each):
- People of ethnic minority who have experienced cancer and a cooccurring condition impacting their thinking or communication (e.g. dementia, stroke, Parkinsons etc). They must have had both at the same time.
- Family members/caregivers of the above patients.
- Healthcare professionals who have cared for someone within the patient group.
If you would like to get involved please contact: Dr Lena O'Connell 07503 792722 | lenao@liverpool.ac.uk
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Meet and Greet session
Monday 6 October 2025, 1 - 2pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Lung Small Community
Tuesday 7 October 2025, 2 - 3:30pm - The Paterson Building, Wilmslow Road M20 4BX
Personalised Care: Core Interventions Delivery Group
Tuesday 7 October 2025, 2 - 4pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Programme Assurance Group
Wednesday 8 October 2025, 10am - 12pm - Online and in person at The Christie
Virtual Volunteer training: Communicating with impact - being brief
Thursday 9 October 2025, 2 - 4pm - Virtual on Zoom
Meet and Greet session
Thursday 9 October 2025, 5:30 - 6:30pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Lung Pathway Board
Tuesday 14 October 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm - The Nest, 63 Claverton Road, Wythenshawe M23 9FT
GM Cancer Voices Monthly Drop in
Wednesday 15 October 2025, 12 - 12:45pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Skin Pathway Board
Thursday 16 October 2025, 9-11am - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Breast Small Community
Friday 31 October 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm -The Paterson Building, Wilmslow Road M20 4BX
Volunteer training: assertiveness - speaking up for what matters
Monday 3 November 2025, 1pm - 3:30pm -The Paterson Building, Wilmslow Road M20 4BX
Personalised Care Programme Board
Wednesday 5 November 2025, 10am - 12pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Genomics Delivery Group
Thursday 6 November 2025, 9:30- 11am - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Pathway and Programme Board Forum Meeting
Thursday 6 November 2025, 9:30- 11am - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Gynae Pathway Board
Friday 7 November 2025, 2-4pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
If you are a healthcare professional and have an opportunity you’d like to advertise, please get in touch at gmcancer.voices@nhs.net
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